Christies, Encouraged By Significant Growth In Dubai Sales  Up 113%, Looks Forward To October Sales In Dubai

Following the success of the April 2010 Dubai sales which totaled $23.7 million against a projection of $15 million, an increase of 113% on the previous series of sales held in October 2009, Christie’s is looking forward to this week’s International Modern & Contemporary Art and Jewels & Watches sales on October 26 and 27. This encouraging statistic was mirrored last week in London where the Christie’s sale of Post War and Contemporary Art realized $61 million compared to the $17 million raised for the same category in October 2009.

The strong result in Dubai was due to the spectacular performance of the Dr. Mohammed Farsi Collection of works by Egyptian artists, offered as part of the April sale of International Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern art, which alone realised $8.7 million. The Collection was 100% sold and included Mahmoud Said’s (Egyptian 1897-1964) Les Chadoufs, from1934, which set a record for a modern painting by any Middle Eastern artist, when it sold for $2,434,500 / AED8,939,484. This translates into a market share of 73% for Christie’s.

In the upcoming Modern and Contemporary Art sale Christie’s holds 70% of the world auction records for the artists on offer against our main international competitors active in the Middle Eastern art market. The strongest percentage appears in the Iranian section, where Christie’s has established record prices for 22 artists against 13 achieved by all other auction houses combined. In second place comes the Egyptian art category, where Christie’s holds 9 artist records, against 2 established by the other international auction houses. In third place is Lebanese art, where Christie’s holds 6 world auction records, against 3 by other international auction houses.

Michael Jeha, Managing Director of Christie’s in the Middle East, said: “As a company, Christie’s made a significant commitment to the Middle East in 2005 by opening an office, by investing in a senior management team and bi-annual sales of Jewels & Watches and International Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern art. Whilst we were not immune to the recent economic downturn, it was this infrastructure combined with our established relationships with clients and collectors that enabled us to produce such a strong performance. Christie’s Dubai sales continue to provide an international platform for emerging and established artists, well attended by opinion-makers and curators from the region.”

This October’s Dubai sales will see further museum-quality works from the Dr. Mohammed Farsi Collection, a dazzling collection of 40 Parures or jewellery suites, to be sold without reserve and 42 collectors’ watches. The combined low estimate for the two October Dubai sales is $20.3 million.
 

Cartoon Network Arabic Free-To-Air Goes Live On October 10th

Turner Broadcasting System Europe Limited (TBS), a Time Warner company, will launch its free-to-air Cartoon Network in Arabic on Sunday, 10 October 2010. The channel, broadcasting completely in Arabic across the MENA region, will feature over 500 episodes of the kids’ most popular shows including: Ben 10, Powerpuff Girls, Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack, Ben and Izzy and Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends, in addition to the Middle East’s popular 3D animation series, FREEJ.

In celebration of the official inauguration, a ceremony was held at Dubai Media City on Wednesday October 6th where a number of TBS regional officials and celebrities attended the event. The launch coincides with the opening of Turner Broadcasting System’s offices in Dubai Media City, the region’s leading media hub and a member of TECOM Investments.

With a reach of a potential 35 million homes in the MENA region, the new channel will be launched to target the growing audience base who are dedicated followers of Cartoon Network through airing locally produced shows, blockbuster movies and original productions.

In commemorating this announcement, Alan Musa, Vice President and General Manager, Middle East, Africa & Pan Region said: “Cartoon Network Arabic reflects TBS’s ambition and belief in local talent. Our initiative has come to life through investing in different strategic partnerships with companies such as “Lammtara” and “Rubicon”. Both partnerships will result in generating new ideas and content in addition to distributing them outside the MENA region.”

Under the deal with Lammtara, the studio and creator of FREEJ, Turner will license and distribute FREEJ episodes and merchandise, and produce a local version of its original production, Skatoony, which will feature FREEJ characters, a first for the global animated channel. Rubicon Group, the creator of “Tareq wa Shireen” and “Ben and Izzy” will be working with Turner to air these series on Cartoon Network.

“We are thrilled to work with prestigious names such as Turner Broadcasting System and Cartoon Network. Their efforts and determination to create localized high quality content is admired and will be recognized amongst the industry. We are confident that our relationship with TBS will create new and innovative opportunities in the future.” Mohammed Saeed Harib, Creator and Director of FREEJ

Randa Ayoubi, CEO of Rubicon Group Holding: “Through our long standing relationship with Turner Broadcasting, Ben and Izzy has grown incredibly popular on an international stage. Which is why we are delighted that it now has a permanent home in the Middle East too. There is huge market for Arabic content and Cartoon Network Arabia has provided the perfect platform to tell our stories.”

Mohammad Abdullah, Managing Director of TECOM Investments’ Media Cluster, said: “We welcome Turner Broadcasting Systems to TECOM Media Cluster with the launch of its free-to-air Cartoon Network Channel in Arabic. This is particularly noteworthy as Turner will focus on original content creation for the channel in collaboration with regional companies. There is a huge demand for locally produced content and we believe this initiative will add definite value to the Arab media industry.

“The launch of Cartoon Network Arabic from Dubai Media City underlines the world-class infrastructure and support services provided by the TECOM Media Cluster that consists of Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City and International Media Production Zone. It also highlights Turner Broadcasting’s keenness to operate from Dubai and consolidate its ties with the Middle East’s broadcast and production market.”

TBS’s efforts in publicizing and marketing Cartoon Network Arabic have manifested itself through various communication channels such as Print, broadcast and online. In addition to traditional media, community campaigns are being carried out throughout the region focusing on schools and mall visits to raise awareness among the targeted audience and educate them about the new channel and programs it will air.

Moreover, a website dedicated to the new channel will launch on the 10th of October 2010, to provide detailed and up-to-date information about the channel and its shows.
 

RTA To Activate e-Certificates Service On October 24th

The Vehicles Licensing Department, Licensing Agency of Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), has reported that as of 24 October 2010, it would start activation of the e-service of issuing several certificates online through RTA portal (www.rta.ae).

According to Abdul Kareem Nimaat, Director of Vehicles Licensing, RTA Licensing Agency, the new e-service included issuing vehicle ownership certificate, vehicle non-ownership certificate, and the number of vehicles owned certificate.

“The concerned body can verify the authenticity of the vehicle’s details through RTA website by entering the Certificate Number, and Traffic File Number. Accordingly, the client can issue the said certificate without having to visit RTA-affiliated service centers. However, certificates issuance will continue to be offered at the service outlets as well,” said Nimaat.

He continued: “This step is part of RTA efforts to broaden and enhance the scope of its e-services in keeping with the Dubai e-Government drive and as a contribution to the enhancement of the digital economy of the Dubai Emirate and its premier regional standing in this line. Through a work plan and a timeline aligned with the e-Government strategies, All RTA agencies are constantly in pursuit of upgrading their e-services with the aim of saving time and effort of customers and enabling them processes their transactions in handy manner”.

The Director of Vehicles Licensing called on RTA individual and corporate customers to step up the use of e-services tailor-made to provide handy services to all segments of the community, including obtaining certificates online.

Garden Landscaping Middle East To Open In October 31 in Dubai

Leading experts and trend setters from the garden and landscaping industry will present their views on the latest developments in the field at Green Talks, a series of seminars and workshops.

As part of the Light Focus Conference running in conjunction with Light Middle East which is co-located with Garden+Landscaping Middle East, Green Talks has been introduced as an added feature for Garden+Landscaping Middle East, the leading trade event in the region for the garden, landscaping and outdoor living industry. The exhibitions which will be held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from October 31 to November 2 share synergies in terms of visitor profiles as well as in the over-riding theme:

‘Innovation and Sustainability in Design’.

“There is growing interest in the need for environmentally-friendly landscaping solutions that are less damaging to the local ecological system and the urgent need to conserve resources,” said Ahmed Pauwels, Chief Executive Officer of organiser, Epoc Messe Frankfurt.

“Green Talks, in conjunction with the Light Focus Conference will provide a meeting place for experts, professionals, developers, architects and consumers to discuss the latest developments in the field and analyse how the changing trends in the industry can be harnessed and implemented to benefit the local industry,” Pauwels, added.

Over 3 days, the industry specific conference will feature a series of training sessions, workshops and seminars focusing on the latest developments and green technologies available in the industry. Leading experts will present the latest innovative products, while architects and designers will throw light on sustainable design and ways to benefit the bottom line.

Local government representatives will also share the latest policy changes and masterplans for future development planned in the region.

Among the renowned experts making presentations at Green Talks is Karl Heinz Braun, Export Manager Eastern Europe, Middle East, Africa and South America for ZinCo – Al Yousuf Agricultural and Landscaping LLC and Mohammed Hassan Al Fardan, Head of Promotion and Recreation Office Public Parks and Horticulture Department, Dubai Municipality.

Braun, who qualified as a Horticultural Engineer from Berlin, has been associated with designing horticultural features on such major international projects such as Banco Santander’s 80,000 sq m green roof project in Madrid; 35,000 sq m Metro Shopping project in Istanbul and the 25,000 sq m Tehran Book Garden.

Braun will make a series of presentations about the innovations and design ideas behind the development of green roof projects in Tunisia, Kuwait, St. Petersburg, Moscow, Budapest, Praha, Vicenza (Italy), Riga, Porto Alegre and Santiago de Chile.

Christies October Sale In Dubai Features Rich Offering Of Works From Around The Middle East Turkey

Christie’s October 26th, 2010 Dubai sale of Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art is blessed with a rich offering of works reflecting the emergence of the Iranian Modern Art movement, a further selection of works from the renowned Farsi Collection, one of the most comprehensive groups of modern Egyptian art in private hands and a diverse range of 20 works from modern and contemporary Turkish artists.

Michael Jeha, Managing Director of Christie’s Dubai, said: “We are delighted to have been entrusted with the great private collection of Egyptian art which has in turn attracted a wealth of individual collectors, from 15 different countries, to consign other significant works to this, our ninth sale series in the Middle East. I believe this is one of Christie’s richest sale yet in terms of its diversity and rarity.” (Separate press releases are available for the Farsi Collection and the Turkish works).

The Farsi Collection
Dr. Farsi’s private collection is recognized as the most comprehensive group of modern Egyptian art in private hands. The group of 30 works to be offered at Christie’s in Dubai includes paintings representing many of Egypt’s most famous 20th century artists such as
Mahmoud Said, Ragheb Ayad, Abul Hadi El-Gazzar, Hamed Nada, Seif and Adham Wanly, and Adam Henein, for which new world auction records have been established earlier this year in Dubai.

Lebanese Art
Chafic Abboud (1926-2004) is represented by three works from the studio of the artist which include an oil on canvas painted in 1992, Premiers Gestes (estimate: $70,000-100,000 lot 32) and Untitled (estimate: $60,000-80,000 lot 34). Six works are also offered in the sale the proceeds of which are to benefit the forthcoming Shafic Abboud Retrospective at the Institut du Monde Arabe, in Paris, in 2011. With a combined estimate of $130,000, the six works include three by Abboud and one by fellow Lebanese artist Hussein Madi.

Two works by Paul Guiragossian (1926-1993), dominate this section of the sale; La Foule, 1987, exhibited earlier this year in Beirut, is reminiscent of the warm exotic tones used by Fauve artists and shows a feize-like group of women standing in line facing the viewer and reflecting Guiragossian’s preoccupation with women and motherhood, (estimate: 100,000-130,000 lot 38). His Claire Obscure (shown here) also painted in 1987 but with fewer figures and painted in thick strokes and larger blocks of colour is rare to find among the artist’s work and is a technique reserved for his most monumental compositions. Nothing similar has been sold at auction before and it is estimated at $100,000 – 130,000 (lot 39).

Turkish Art
The highlight of this section of the sale is Fahrelnissa Zeid’s (Turkish / Jordanian 1900-1991) exuberant Dervishes, painted circa 1950s. As a young aristocratic woman, Zeid, lived in Paris joining the so-called Ecole de Paris group of artists in the 1940s. She later married into the Jordanian Royal Family. The whirling dance depicted here is a Sufi tradition where the goal is to reach Majbhd, a sacred ecstasy. The dervishes wear their traditional white whirling skirts and distinctive tall hats and the work is estimated at $80,000-100,000 (lot 31). A panoramic view of Istanbul by Devrim Erbil (b.1937) inspired by the jewel-like illustrations of the city by the 16th century Turkish artist Matrakci Nasuh, is estimated at $70,000-90,000 (lot 108). (A separate press release is available on Turkish Art.)

Syrian Art
Eight works by Fateh Moudarres (1922-1999) include Untitled from circa 1970 (estimate: $140,000-180,000 – lot 40). The striped painting is reminiscent of the walls of the Mamluk buildings in Damascus with its alternate strips of black and paler stone merged onto the bodies of the figures in the crowd. It also features Moudarres’ childhood nightmare figure of a ravenous dog which he referred to as ‘the Beast’ and used in his paintings after the war of 1967. Another highlight is a view of Maaloula by Louay Kayyali (1934-1978), depicting a tiny village to the northeast of Damascus, built into the rugged hillside at high altitude. Maaloula from the Arabic word meaning ‘entrance’ is the only place where the western dialect of Aramaic, the language of Christ, is still spoken. All students of Fine Art at Damascus University, where Fateh Moudaress and Louay Kayyali both taught, are required to paint in Maaloula and therefore it is unsurprising that both artists used the village as a subject for many of their paintings. The example in the sale is a rare and spectacular version from the 1960s and is estimated at $50,000-70,000 – lot 92. Kayyali’s Ice Cream Seller, painted in 1972, is also included in the sale with an estimate of $90,000- 120,000 (lot 90). There are also eight works by Syrian artists from an Italian private collection.

Iranian Art
Aside from the private collection mentioned above, the highlight of the sale is a large oil on canvas triptych by the leading Iranian artist Mohammed Ehsai (b. 1939). Entitled Banquet (lot 79 – illustrated page 1) and painted in 2009, the monochrome black and white design reflects his fascination with calligraphy and is estimated at $350,000-500,000.

Farhad Moshiri’s (b. 1963), Love, (shown here) a rare example from early in his Jars series, shows a jar inscribed with Eshgh the Arabic word for Love. By folding and crushing the canvas Moshiri mimicks the cracquelure effect of traditional earthenware pots (estimate: $150,000-250,000 – lot 71). Moshiri’s Mobile Talker, from his Candy Store series and painted in 2007 shows a fashionable young woman in a headscarf holding her ‘phone, the outline of her face, features and hands traced in blobs of glitter all superimposed onto a multi-tiered cake. This saccharine, artificial image plays to Moshiri’s interest in the new media-savvy generation of young Iranians, his love of Pop Art and issues of consumerism (estimate: $120,000-180,000 – lot 106).

Untitled, one of only ten or twelve abstract works by Sohrab Sepehri (1928-1980), painted in 1970 with primary coloured lines and shapes set against a dark background carries an estimate of $200,000-300,000 (lot 80). It was exhibited last year in a retrospective of the artist’s work at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art. An unnerving oil on canvas by Afshin Pirhashemi (b. 1974) Seduction, (shown here) painted this year, shows six women dressed in black robes advancing towards the viewer holding swords and pistols, each applying bright red lipstick??. Exploring the complexities of life in today’s Iran, it is estimated at $80,000-120,000 (lot 81). Kambiz Sabri’s (b.1967) Red Dive from 2008 is a red Toshiba television with a collection of red plastic toys attached, estimate $7,000- 10,000 (lot 114).

Others Iranian artists represented in sale include Reza Aramesh, Farzan Sadjadi, Alireza Fani, and Shahriar Ahmadi.
 

Dubai Culture & Arts Authority To Host The Fourth Edition Of Dubai Festival For Youth Theatre From October 1, 2010

Theatre is one of the oldest and most popular artforms of the Arab world. It continues to gain in popularity, led by the efforts of cultural groups and enthusiastic individuals.

The theatre culture of the region is being further led by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirate’s dedicated authority to promote culture, heritage and the arts.

Dubai Culture is organizing its annual Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, a pioneering festival in the region that strengthens and shapes youth participation, by reaching out to theatre talent across the UAE.

Dubai Culture will host the fourth edition of the Festival this year from October 1, 2010. A strategic initiative by Dubai Culture to strengthen the Emirati theatre sector and promote young talent, the event will feature selected plays by UAE-based theatre groups and workshops on various aspects of theatre production from scripting to directing, acting, costumes, lighting and set design.

The defining theatre event that brings together talent and enthusiasts from across the country, the Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre will foster stronger coordination and communication among various local theatre groups.

In addition to serving as a platform to showcase local talent, the festival will also highlight socially relevant themes through the viewpoint of Emirati youth. It thus offers a new window of understanding of Arab issues as perceived by the local youth.

Saeed Al Nabouda, Acting Director-General of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, said that the Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre highlights the founding objective of Dubai Culture to identify, support and nurture local talent across all art-forms.

“Theatre is part of the cultural tradition of the UAE and the wider Arab world that builds on the Arabian tradition of story-telling. The Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre encourages youngsters to showcase their talent and nurture their skills through workshops led by industry veterans. The competitive element of the festival will also shine the spotlight on the finest talent in the region.”

The plays for the festival will be selected by an internal committee in Dubai Culture, who will follow a stricter selection process this year. The plays proposed by UAE theatre groups will be chosen for their script and production concepts. This is to ensure that the quality of plays presented is of high standards, thus setting a new benchmark for the regional theatre industry.

Over the course of the two-week festival, young theatre enthusiasts will perform plays that will judged by a renowned jury, drawn from the industry. They will judge the selected plays on the script, direction, prop design and acting skills. The public will also be an integral part of the overall experience, by contributing their feedback on the plays through panel discussions held after every play.

Mr. Nabouda said that announcing the dates of the festival at this stage will provide the theatre groups with sufficient lead-time to prepare and execute high-quality productions. The dates have also been selected so that they do not coincide with any other regional theatre festivals.

The Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre winners will be awarded an array of prizes. “The festival is a stepping stone for the participants to achieve recognition regionally with the plays gaining attention at the festival going on to participate in regional events, thus enhancing their confidence,” added Mr. Nabouda.

Over the past three years, the Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre has catalysed a grassroots movement that encourages theatre enthusiasts to come together and create powerful Arabic plays that highlight the regional creative standards.

The Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre last year hosted eight plays and workshops by leading theatre professionals. The festival also honoured Emirati playwright and director Naji Al Hai with the ‘Theatre Personality of the Year Award’.
 

Dubai Culture & Arts Authority To Host The Fourth Edition Of Dubai Festival For Youth Theatre From October 1, 2010

Theatre is one of the oldest and most popular artforms of the Arab world. It continues to gain in popularity, led by the efforts of cultural groups and enthusiastic individuals.

The theatre culture of the region is being further led by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirate’s dedicated authority to promote culture, heritage and the arts.

Dubai Culture is organizing its annual Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, a pioneering festival in the region that strengthens and shapes youth participation, by reaching out to theatre talent across the UAE.

Dubai Culture will host the fourth edition of the Festival this year from October 1, 2010. A strategic initiative by Dubai Culture to strengthen the Emirati theatre sector and promote young talent, the event will feature selected plays by UAE-based theatre groups and workshops on various aspects of theatre production from scripting to directing, acting, costumes, lighting and set design.

The defining theatre event that brings together talent and enthusiasts from across the country, the Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre will foster stronger coordination and communication among various local theatre groups.

In addition to serving as a platform to showcase local talent, the festival will also highlight socially relevant themes through the viewpoint of Emirati youth. It thus offers a new window of understanding of Arab issues as perceived by the local youth.

Saeed Al Nabouda, Acting Director-General of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, said that the Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre highlights the founding objective of Dubai Culture to identify, support and nurture local talent across all art-forms.

“Theatre is part of the cultural tradition of the UAE and the wider Arab world that builds on the Arabian tradition of story-telling. The Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre encourages youngsters to showcase their talent and nurture their skills through workshops led by industry veterans. The competitive element of the festival will also shine the spotlight on the finest talent in the region.”

The plays for the festival will be selected by an internal committee in Dubai Culture, who will follow a stricter selection process this year. The plays proposed by UAE theatre groups will be chosen for their script and production concepts. This is to ensure that the quality of plays presented is of high standards, thus setting a new benchmark for the regional theatre industry.

Over the course of the two-week festival, young theatre enthusiasts will perform plays that will judged by a renowned jury, drawn from the industry. They will judge the selected plays on the script, direction, prop design and acting skills. The public will also be an integral part of the overall experience, by contributing their feedback on the plays through panel discussions held after every play.

Mr. Nabouda said that announcing the dates of the festival at this stage will provide the theatre groups with sufficient lead-time to prepare and execute high-quality productions. The dates have also been selected so that they do not coincide with any other regional theatre festivals.

The Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre winners will be awarded an array of prizes. “The festival is a stepping stone for the participants to achieve recognition regionally with the plays gaining attention at the festival going on to participate in regional events, thus enhancing their confidence,” added Mr. Nabouda.

Over the past three years, the Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre has catalysed a grassroots movement that encourages theatre enthusiasts to come together and create powerful Arabic plays that highlight the regional creative standards.

The Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre last year hosted eight plays and workshops by leading theatre professionals. The festival also honoured Emirati playwright and director Naji Al Hai with the ‘Theatre Personality of the Year Award’.
 

Dubai Culture & Arts Authority To Host The Fourth Edition Of Dubai Festival For Youth Theatre From October 1, 2010

Theatre is one of the oldest and most popular artforms of the Arab world. It continues to gain in popularity, led by the efforts of cultural groups and enthusiastic individuals.

The theatre culture of the region is being further led by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirate’s dedicated authority to promote culture, heritage and the arts.

Dubai Culture is organizing its annual Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, a pioneering festival in the region that strengthens and shapes youth participation, by reaching out to theatre talent across the UAE.

Dubai Culture will host the fourth edition of the Festival this year from October 1, 2010. A strategic initiative by Dubai Culture to strengthen the Emirati theatre sector and promote young talent, the event will feature selected plays by UAE-based theatre groups and workshops on various aspects of theatre production from scripting to directing, acting, costumes, lighting and set design.

The defining theatre event that brings together talent and enthusiasts from across the country, the Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre will foster stronger coordination and communication among various local theatre groups.

In addition to serving as a platform to showcase local talent, the festival will also highlight socially relevant themes through the viewpoint of Emirati youth. It thus offers a new window of understanding of Arab issues as perceived by the local youth.

Saeed Al Nabouda, Acting Director-General of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, said that the Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre highlights the founding objective of Dubai Culture to identify, support and nurture local talent across all art-forms.

“Theatre is part of the cultural tradition of the UAE and the wider Arab world that builds on the Arabian tradition of story-telling. The Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre encourages youngsters to showcase their talent and nurture their skills through workshops led by industry veterans. The competitive element of the festival will also shine the spotlight on the finest talent in the region.”

The plays for the festival will be selected by an internal committee in Dubai Culture, who will follow a stricter selection process this year. The plays proposed by UAE theatre groups will be chosen for their script and production concepts. This is to ensure that the quality of plays presented is of high standards, thus setting a new benchmark for the regional theatre industry.

Over the course of the two-week festival, young theatre enthusiasts will perform plays that will judged by a renowned jury, drawn from the industry. They will judge the selected plays on the script, direction, prop design and acting skills. The public will also be an integral part of the overall experience, by contributing their feedback on the plays through panel discussions held after every play.

Mr. Nabouda said that announcing the dates of the festival at this stage will provide the theatre groups with sufficient lead-time to prepare and execute high-quality productions. The dates have also been selected so that they do not coincide with any other regional theatre festivals.

The Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre winners will be awarded an array of prizes. “The festival is a stepping stone for the participants to achieve recognition regionally with the plays gaining attention at the festival going on to participate in regional events, thus enhancing their confidence,” added Mr. Nabouda.

Over the past three years, the Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre has catalysed a grassroots movement that encourages theatre enthusiasts to come together and create powerful Arabic plays that highlight the regional creative standards.

The Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre last year hosted eight plays and workshops by leading theatre professionals. The festival also honoured Emirati playwright and director Naji Al Hai with the ‘Theatre Personality of the Year Award’.
 

Dubai Culture & Arts Authority To Host The Fourth Edition Of Dubai Festival For Youth Theatre From October 1, 2010

Theatre is one of the oldest and most popular artforms of the Arab world. It continues to gain in popularity, led by the efforts of cultural groups and enthusiastic individuals.

The theatre culture of the region is being further led by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirate’s dedicated authority to promote culture, heritage and the arts.

Dubai Culture is organizing its annual Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, a pioneering festival in the region that strengthens and shapes youth participation, by reaching out to theatre talent across the UAE.

Dubai Culture will host the fourth edition of the Festival this year from October 1, 2010. A strategic initiative by Dubai Culture to strengthen the Emirati theatre sector and promote young talent, the event will feature selected plays by UAE-based theatre groups and workshops on various aspects of theatre production from scripting to directing, acting, costumes, lighting and set design.

The defining theatre event that brings together talent and enthusiasts from across the country, the Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre will foster stronger coordination and communication among various local theatre groups.

In addition to serving as a platform to showcase local talent, the festival will also highlight socially relevant themes through the viewpoint of Emirati youth. It thus offers a new window of understanding of Arab issues as perceived by the local youth.

Saeed Al Nabouda, Acting Director-General of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, said that the Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre highlights the founding objective of Dubai Culture to identify, support and nurture local talent across all art-forms.

“Theatre is part of the cultural tradition of the UAE and the wider Arab world that builds on the Arabian tradition of story-telling. The Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre encourages youngsters to showcase their talent and nurture their skills through workshops led by industry veterans. The competitive element of the festival will also shine the spotlight on the finest talent in the region.”

The plays for the festival will be selected by an internal committee in Dubai Culture, who will follow a stricter selection process this year. The plays proposed by UAE theatre groups will be chosen for their script and production concepts. This is to ensure that the quality of plays presented is of high standards, thus setting a new benchmark for the regional theatre industry.

Over the course of the two-week festival, young theatre enthusiasts will perform plays that will judged by a renowned jury, drawn from the industry. They will judge the selected plays on the script, direction, prop design and acting skills. The public will also be an integral part of the overall experience, by contributing their feedback on the plays through panel discussions held after every play.

Mr. Nabouda said that announcing the dates of the festival at this stage will provide the theatre groups with sufficient lead-time to prepare and execute high-quality productions. The dates have also been selected so that they do not coincide with any other regional theatre festivals.

The Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre winners will be awarded an array of prizes. “The festival is a stepping stone for the participants to achieve recognition regionally with the plays gaining attention at the festival going on to participate in regional events, thus enhancing their confidence,” added Mr. Nabouda.

Over the past three years, the Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre has catalysed a grassroots movement that encourages theatre enthusiasts to come together and create powerful Arabic plays that highlight the regional creative standards.

The Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre last year hosted eight plays and workshops by leading theatre professionals. The festival also honoured Emirati playwright and director Naji Al Hai with the ‘Theatre Personality of the Year Award’.
 

DP World To Open New Terminal In Vietnam on October 1, 2009

Global marine terminal operator DP World has set October 1st, 2009 as the date of the official inauguration of its state-of-the-art Saigon Premier Container Terminal (SPCT). A joint venture between DP World and Vietnam’s IPC, SPCT is located on the Soai Rap River 15 kilometres from Ho Chi Minh City. SPCT will further establish Ho Chi Minh City as the country’s main commercial hub.

The region’s second fastest growing economy, Vietnam has seen an average annual growth of 7.1 percent since 2000. While Ho Chi Minh City is currently served by various port facilities along the Dong Nai and Saigon rivers, several terminals on the Saigon River are slated for progressive closure over the next several years. Proximate to Ho Chi Minh City’s industrial hinterland, SPCT will handle cargo that currently moves through these ports, while attracting new volumes.

Peter Wong, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Asia Region, said:
"SPCT is strategically placed to service not only Ho Chi Minh City but also the surrounding industrial zone."

Glen Hilton, Vice President & Managing Director, DP World SE Asia Region, said: “With 500 metres of wharf and five cranes in Phase I, SPCT can easily handle the largest vessels currently calling at Ho Chi Minh City. Dredging of the Soai Rap River to 9.5 metres, completed by the end of 2010, will cut two hours off current steaming time and double the size of alongside vessels to 5,000 TEU.”